The early federal elections will take place on February 23. BREKO has taken a closer look at the parties’ election manifestos and provides an overview of what the parties have written on digital infrastructure:

CDU/CSU: The CDU/CSU wants to use various measures to “get out of the coverage gap” and expand broadband and mobile communications across the country. To this end, its election manifesto calls for the networks to be made future-proof with fiber optics. It wants to focus on more competition, cooperation models and reliable funding, as well as launching an effective acceleration law as quickly as possible and igniting the approval turbo, in which the expansion of mobile communications and fiber optics is to be placed in the overriding public interest until the expansion targets are reached. The Union is also calling for an independent digital ministry.

AfD: The AfD calls its election manifesto a key motion. The development of the digital infrastructure is to be accelerated and the digitalization of the administration is to be driven forward. No measures are mentioned as to how this is to be achieved.

SPD: The SPD wants to achieve nationwide coverage with fiber optics and mobile communications and thus also strengthen rural areas. The SPD election manifesto does not specify how this is to be achieved.

Greens: In their election manifesto, the Greens advocate fiber optics in urban and rural areas and mobile communications without dead spots. To this end, they want to create better framework conditions for private-sector expansion by speeding up approval processes, facilitating alternative installation methods and promoting open access. Gigabit funding is to be increased for rural and structurally weak regions. In addition, consumer protection is to be strengthened with a gradual increase in minimum bandwidths and the simplification of proof for reductions in monthly internet costs in the event of poor performance.

BSW: In the BSW election manifesto, digital infrastructure only plays a role insofar as the state must guarantee fast Internet.

FDP: The FDP’s election manifesto contains relatively detailed statements on digital infrastructure. For example, the expansion of fiber optics and mobile communications is to be anchored as an overriding public interest in a network expansion acceleration law. The FDP emphasizes private-sector expansion and calls for competition to be strengthened. It demands cooperation from companies, avoidance of duplicate expansion and clear switch-off dates for copper networks. Accelerated planning, digitalization and a reduction in bureaucracy should help to speed up the expansion. The FDP is also in favour of a federal ministry for digitalization.

Left: The Left Party’s election manifesto also contains some specific aspects. For example, the Left Party is calling for digital participation to be ensured. To this end, they want to promote the municipal and non-profit expansion of fiber optic networks, prevent unnecessary duplication, increase the right to Internet access from the current 10 Mbit/s to 100 Mbit/s download speed and cap prices so that everyone can afford access. From the Left’s point of view, it makes no sense for every provider to build its own mobile and fiber optic network. The costs for network access and the necessary equipment should be taken into account in basic security and other social benefits.

BREKO’s assessment: Overall, the election manifestos offer little that is new and few concrete measures. More important than the election manifestos will be the discussion after the election about the design of the coalition agreement, to which BREKO will contribute its demands. An overview of BREKO’s positions on the Bundestag elections can be found here.